Saving water at home is a matter of small habits and simple adjustments that will lead us to save a substantial amount of water.
The most logical steps we can take at home to save water are to install aerators, also called flow restrictors, on our faucets to reduce water flow and to use a shower instead of a bath to cut consumption by up to half. We should also always run washing machines and dishwashers with a full load and repair any leaks or drips immediately. Let's not forget that saving water often also leads to saving energy.
Below, we break down the best water-saving strategies, divided by room:
Bathroom
The bathroom is often the area with the highest water consumption in the home. Implementing these changes will make a big difference:
- Shower timer: Limit your showers to a maximum of 5 minutes and turn off the tap while you're soaping up. For this, the best device on the market is a water-saving device. Acqua Tempus this allows you to program the maximum shower time, preventing a child from being under the water for 30 minutes or leaving the tap running. There are also other, much simpler shower timers that indicate how long you've been in the shower, although they don't automatically stop the flow.
- Reuse the water: Place a bucket while you wait for the shower water to get hot. You can use this water to mop the floor, flush the toilet, or water plants.
- Dental care and shaving: Don't leave the tap running while brushing your teeth or shaving. Fill a glass or use a stopper in the sink.
- Efficient toilet: If you don't have a dual-flush toilet, you can place a plastic bottle filled with water or sand inside the tank to reduce the volume of each flush. Never use the toilet as a trash can.
- We should install water aerators on the taps to prevent the water from coming out with a very strong flow and thus easily reduce water usage by 50%.
In the Kitchen
Responsible use in the kitchen prevents the waste of thousands of liters per year:
- Efficient appliances: Only use the dishwasher when it's full and choose ECO programs. If washing dishes by hand, use a basin and rinse everything together instead of leaving the tap running.
- Defrosting: Defrost food by taking it out to room temperature or into the refrigerator, never under direct running water.
- Drinking water: Keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator instead of letting the tap run until it gets cold. This practice saves the most water in the home.
Wash
The washing machine requires a large volume of water and energy. We must ensure we optimize its use:
- Full load: Accumulate dirty clothes to fill the drum and avoid pre-washes.
- Short programs: If the clothes are not excessively dirty, use short or cold water programs to reduce consumption and energy expenditure.
Garden and terraces
If our house has outdoor areas, irrigation is where the most water can be lost through evaporation:
- Water strategically: We should always do it first thing in the morning or at sunset, when the sun is not shining directly on it.
- Drip irrigation system: Install drip irrigation instead of using conventional hoses or sprinklers.
- Cleaning: Sweep sidewalks and patios instead of cleaning them with a hose.
- Water tanks for single-family homes with gardens; rainwater can be channeled from the roof and collected in the tank. This is quite common in countries with water scarcity, such as Portugal, Spain, Italy, and Greece.
In conclusion, we must remember that water is not only used for domestic purposes, industry, and agriculture; it is also energy stored in our country's reservoirs, so we must save as much water as possible to improve our water reserves.
